A Legacy of Giving: Pat White and Steve Slaton Announce Multi-Million Dollar Endowment for WVU Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – In a week that saw them immortalized once again in the annals of college football history, West Virginia University legends Pat White and Steve Slaton have announced a monumental multi-million dollar endowment for the WVU football program. The endowment, a testament to their enduring legacy, is aimed at fostering youth development and providing comprehensive support for future generations of Mountaineer student-athletes.
The announcement comes on the heels of a new ESPN report that ranked White and Slaton as the No. 3 greatest playmaking duo in the history of college football. The ranking celebrated their electrifying “Run-and-Shoot” era from 2005 to 2007, a period that saw the Mountaineers achieve unprecedented success, including a thrilling Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia.
Now, the iconic pair is ensuring their impact will be felt far beyond the highlight reels. The “White-Slaton Legacy Fund,” as it will be known, represents a significant financial commitment from both former players, who have leveraged their successful post-football careers to give back to the university that propelled them to national stardom.
“West Virginia gave us everything,” said Pat White, the dynamic quarterback whose dazzling runs and clutch throws made him a four-time Big East Offensive Player of the Year. “It gave us an opportunity, a family, and a home. This endowment is our way of saying thank you. It’s our way of ensuring that the next kid from a small town, the next player who gets overlooked, has the resources and support to chase their dreams, just like we did.”
The endowment will be multifaceted, with a primary focus on creating and funding youth football camps and mentorship programs throughout West Virginia. The goal is to provide access to elite coaching and character development for young athletes in underserved communities across the state. A portion of the funds will also be directed toward academic support, nutrition, and mental health resources for current WVU football players.
Steve Slaton, the explosive running back whose breakaway speed made him a consensus All-American, echoed White’s sentiment.
“The bond we built in Morgantown, with our teammates and with the fans, is something that has shaped our lives,” Slaton said. “We want this fund to be about more than just football. It’s about building character, teaching leadership, and showing the young people of West Virginia that with hard work and a strong support system, anything is possible. This is for the future of the program and for the future of the state.”
The news was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from the university and the athletic department. Head Football Coach Neal Brown praised the former players for their continued leadership and commitment.
“Pat and Steve are the gold standard of what it means to be a Mountaineer,” Coach Brown stated. “They were champions on the field, and they continue to be champions in life. This incredible gift will have a transformative impact on our program and on countless young lives across West Virginia. Their legacy is not just in the record books; it’s in the future they are helping to build.”
WVU Athletic Director Wren Baker highlighted the significance of the endowment in the current landscape of college athletics.
“In an era of constant change, the one constant for West Virginia is the passion of our people and the loyalty of our legends,” Baker said. “Pat White and Steve Slaton’s generosity is a powerful statement. It shows our current and future student-athletes that being a Mountaineer is a lifelong commitment. This fund will be instrumental in our mission to provide a world-class experience for our players and to continue competing at the highest level.”
The White-Slaton era remains a cherished period for Mountaineer fans, a time when WVU was a perennial national title contender. Their on-field chemistry was magical, a blur of speed, power, and creativity that left defenses helpless and a nation of college football fans in awe. Now, their off-field partnership promises to be just as impactful.
As the news of their endowment spread, social media was flooded with messages of gratitude from the Mountaineer faithful. The hashtag #CountryRoadsLegends trended, with fans sharing their favorite memories of the iconic duo and celebrating their latest, and perhaps greatest, contribution to the state they so proudly represented.
